
What is a spiritual stronghold? Anything that has gripped you and manifests itself in habitually sinful behavior. That’s the negative. You can also fortify your soul, heart, and mind with positive strongholds as well. No one is exempt from having a stronghold. As humans, we are created in such a way that when we are not in right relationship with our creator, all sorts of distorted thinking and behavior can take root. That is one of the reasons the Apostle Paul wrote these words in various letters to early churches that still ring true today:
“… Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…” Ephesians 6:10-18
“…walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh…” Galatians 5:16-21
“…we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Strongholds can rise in areas we are very aware of, or at times we are oblivious to them. If we are aware of them, they may be areas we feel deep shame, repeated failure, or have simply given up trying to address. At other times, strongholds can be areas of habitual sin or distorted thinking we are blind to.
We believe God is in the business of dispensing grace, redeeming, saving, and healing even the most difficult strongholds. How?
1. Identify Your Stronghold
Strongholds can include but not be limited to:
Fear-Unreasonable Fears
Pride
Unforgiveness
Slander
Gossip
Lying
Envy
Greed
Covetousness
Ingratitude
Unbelief & Unfaithfulness
Worry & Anxiety
Worldliness
Judgmental Spirit
Tradition
Jealousy
Rejection
Peer group approval
Resentment
Bitterness
All kinds of phobias
All sexual sins
Addictions
Idols, idolatry, or false religion
2. Identify Your Corresponding Scripture
Below is a list of scriptures that correspond with some strongholds you might face as listed above for you to identify. Take time to look up the passages and ask Jesus to speak to you about what truth you need to embrace to counteract the stronghold. This is by no means an exclusive list of scripture in dealing with your stronghold.
PRIDE Proverbs 6:16-17; 11:2; 13:10; 16:5; 27:2; James 4:6
SLANDER & GOSSIP Titus 3:2; Proverbs 11:13; 16:28; 17:9; 6:16-19; 15:1
UNFORGIVENESS Proverbs 24:17; 6:14-15; Mark 11:25; Luke 17:3-4; Eph. 4:31-32
IMMORALITY Rom. 14:17; II Cor. 7:1; I Peter 1:15-16; Hebrews 12:14
LYING Proverbs 6: 17 & 19; 10:18; 12:22; 21:6; Eph. 4:25, 29; Col. 3:9
ENVY Psalm 37:1; Proverbs 3:31; 14:30; I Cor. 13:4
JEALOUSY Proverbs 6:34; 27:4; Ecc. 4:4; Song of Solomon 8:6
GREED & COVETOUSNESS Proverbs 15:27; Ecc. 5:10; Matt. 6:19-21; Eph. 5:3; I Tim. 6:17
INGRATITUDE Psalms 68:19; 89:1; 118:1; Isaiah 63:7; Phil. 4:6
BITTERNESS & HATRED Proverbs 10:12, 18; 15:17; Psalm 32:2; Matt. 5:43-44;
Eph. 4:31; I John 4:20
UNBELIEF & FAITHLESSNESS I Samuel 12:22; Psalm 18:30; 36:5; I Thes. 5:24;
II Timothy 2:13, 19
WORRY & ANXIETY Psalm 127:2; 55:22; Jer. 17:7-8; Matt. 6:25-28; Phil. 4:6-7;
I Peter 5:6-7
FEAR Proverbs 29:25; Psalm 27:3-4; 118:6; Isaiah 12:2; II Timothy 1:7; I John 4:18-19
WORLDLINESS John 15:19; Rom. 12:2; Col. 3:2; II Timothy 2:4; Titus 2:12; I Peter 2:11;
I John 2:15-17
JUDGMENTAL SPIRIT Rom. 2:1; 14:4, 13; I Cor. 4:5; James 4:12; Matt. 7:1-3
3. Prayer of Repentance
Sin’s power that results in a stronghold often comes from its power to isolate us from others. Instead of drawing near to God or others, we distance ourselves. Yet, there is hope! We are not alone, this is why repeatedly in scripture we are told:
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Having identified the stronghold sin, we now confess with clarity and honesty. This is a powerful, bold step. We gain freedom by renouncing and repenting of the sin that we have allowed as a stronghold. The following is a sample prayer of repentance you can use to pray out loud with others committed to walking with you in the days and weeks ahead:
Father, I come before you in the name of Jesus. I recognize the power of Jesus shed blood to demolish spiritual strongholds in my life. I confess I have given a foothold to sin. I renounce the stronghold of _____________________. I claim the counter truth of _______________________ by the authority of Jesus. Thank you for always pursuing me and granting me forgiveness. I ask you to keep my heart sensitive to your Spirit and give me strength to obey your Holy Spirit so that my entire life continually conforms to your image, Jesus. Amen.
4. Stick with it
You have taken a bold, vulnerable, and public step, attacking a stronghold in your life with a spiritual sledgehammer. Likely, you will feel freedom now, but quite possibly an even greater temptation in the days to come as the evil one would love nothing better than for you to retreat. Strongholds are often deeply embedded in habits that take time to overcome. Here are several suggestions on this path:
Employ the Word of God. Memorize, write in places you will see it and fully embrace the scripture that counters your stronghold.
Stay connected in community. Ask those who heard you confess your stronghold to initiate with you in the coming weeks to pray, encourage, and check-in with you.
Consider a professional Christian counselor to equip you with more tools to create healthy habits.
Stay in Christian community by prioritizing Sunday worship and a mid-week group where you are known.
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